Homer Bone
Encyclopedia
Homer Truett Bone was a United States federal judge
and Senator
from Washington.
Born in Franklin, Indiana
, Bone and his family moved to Tacoma, Washington
in 1899. Bone attended Tacoma Law School and was admitted to the Bar in 1911. He specialized in labor law, and served as an assistant special prosecutor for Pierce County
in 1912, as the Corporate Counsel for the Port of Tacoma
from 1918 to 1932, and as an attorney for Tacoma City Light. In 1918, he married Blanche Slye. Bone ran unsuccessfully for prosecuting attorney and Mayor of Tacoma as a Socialist, and for the Third District Congressional seat as a Farmer-Labor candidate. In 1922 Bone served in the Washington State House, where he advocated for the ability of local government to form public utility districts. In 1928 Bone again ran unsuccessfully for Congress, this time as a Republican
.
In 1932, Bone finally won election to the United States Senate
, this time as a Democrat, and served from 1933-1944. He continued his advocacy for public owned power, and other progressive causes. He supported creation of the Bonneville Dam
and the Grand Coulee Dam
. Regarding World War II
, Bone was an isolationist. Bone, along with senator Matthew Neely and representative Warren Magnuson, wrote the legislation which created the National Cancer Institute
.
On April 1, 1944, Bone was nominated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
vacated by Bert E. Haney
. Bone was confirmed by the United States Senate
on April 1, 1944, and received his commission the same day. He assumed senior status
on January 1, 1956. He returned to the private practice of law, in San Francisco, California
, from 1956 to 1968, and died in Tacoma in 1970.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
and Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from Washington.
Born in Franklin, Indiana
Franklin, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 19,463 people, 6,824 households, and 4,872 families residing in the city. The population increased by more than 50% during the 1990s , with new residents attracted by jobs in the community, as well as some people commuting to Indianapolis for work. The...
, Bone and his family moved to Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
in 1899. Bone attended Tacoma Law School and was admitted to the Bar in 1911. He specialized in labor law, and served as an assistant special prosecutor for Pierce County
Pierce County, Washington
right|thumb|[[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]] - Seat of Pierce CountyPierce County is the second most populous county in the U.S. state of Washington. Formed out of Thurston County on December 22, 1852, by the legislature of Oregon Territory...
in 1912, as the Corporate Counsel for the Port of Tacoma
Port of Tacoma
The Port of Tacoma is an independent seaport located in Tacoma, Washington. The port was created by a vote of Pierce County citizens on November 5, 1918...
from 1918 to 1932, and as an attorney for Tacoma City Light. In 1918, he married Blanche Slye. Bone ran unsuccessfully for prosecuting attorney and Mayor of Tacoma as a Socialist, and for the Third District Congressional seat as a Farmer-Labor candidate. In 1922 Bone served in the Washington State House, where he advocated for the ability of local government to form public utility districts. In 1928 Bone again ran unsuccessfully for Congress, this time as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
.
In 1932, Bone finally won election to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, this time as a Democrat, and served from 1933-1944. He continued his advocacy for public owned power, and other progressive causes. He supported creation of the Bonneville Dam
Bonneville Dam
Bonneville Lock and Dam consists of several run-of-the-river dam structures that together complete a span of the Columbia River between the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington at River Mile 146.1. The dam is located east of Portland, Oregon, in the Columbia River Gorge. The primary functions of...
and the Grand Coulee Dam
Grand Coulee Dam
Grand Coulee Dam is a gravity dam on the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington built to produce hydroelectric power and provide irrigation. It was constructed between 1933 and 1942, originally with two power plants. A third power station was completed in 1974 to increase its energy...
. Regarding World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Bone was an isolationist. Bone, along with senator Matthew Neely and representative Warren Magnuson, wrote the legislation which created the National Cancer Institute
National Cancer Institute
The National Cancer Institute is part of the National Institutes of Health , which is one of 11 agencies that are part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The NCI coordinates the U.S...
.
On April 1, 1944, Bone was nominated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is a U.S. federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* District of Alaska* District of Arizona...
vacated by Bert E. Haney
Bert E. Haney
Bert Emery Haney, alternately Bert Emory Haney , was an American attorney and jurist from Oregon. A native of Oregon, he served as United States Attorney for the Oregon District before becoming a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit...
. Bone was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on April 1, 1944, and received his commission the same day. He assumed senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
on January 1, 1956. He returned to the private practice of law, in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, from 1956 to 1968, and died in Tacoma in 1970.